Posts Tagged ‘The Fertile Soul’

Our June retreat in Southern California will focus on bringing jing and shen together, wherever you are in your reproductive years.

According to Chinese medicine, regardless of age, fertility is the proper combination of jing and shen.

Jing is essence, governed by the kidney system of energies (water); and shen is spirit, governed by the heart system of energies (fire)

Life comes from the combination of essence (water) and spirit (fire). When we are younger, we have more essence; as we age we have more spirit. The older we are, it is more essential to nourish essence with tonics, diet, rest, herbs, acupuncture and exercises that increase blood flow to the reproductive organs. But because of the percentage of shen as we approach our perimenopausal years, its even more important to attend to the spirit.

Nourish your spirit, and live the passion of your own existence first. Only then can you provide adequate essence for another.

I recall the first stirrings in my heart to bring forth life. It was the deepest, most personal and authentic need I’ve ever known. It seems to me a man can’t know this feeling in the same way. It felt like an invitation to be overtaken by a love that would consume me completely. I couldn’t love each of my three children more. But none of them could fulfill this need to be consumed by love itself. They were expressions of love, not its fulfillment. Yet each of them has become a part of this extension of love itself, the most powerful force in existence.

I entered medical school after Theresa was born. I still had a deep longing for something unfinished. Chinese medicine followed, as did another marriage and two more children. Some deep current within pushed me unrelentingly, beyond the confines of a satisfied, comfortable life. Restlessness prevailed, guided by a love beyond satiation. I could not be fulfilled.

Chinese medicine and Eastern philosophy drove me deeper within, as did my own personal search for something which I couldn’t find. I didn’t know what it was, only that I must pursue it.

Fertility became my unrelenting passion. Within it held the direction that led to the source of life itself. The Taoists seemed to me to be closer to the source than any exteriorly focused belief or healing modality. The further I go with it, the more vast and miraculous this opening to love and the source of life becomes.

When I meet with individuals on this journey, it is that source which I try to show them, convey, and help them open to. When they merely are interested in how to control the physical expression. they miss the miraculous source itself. It’s like trying to manipulate the atmosphere by holding your breath.

The Tao te Ching says,

The Valley Spirit never dies.
It is called the Mysterious Feminine.
And the doorway to the mysterious feminine
It is the gateway through which heaven and earth arise.
It is there within you all the while.
Use it as you will;
It will never run dry.

This is the miraculous source. It can’t be forced, manipulated or controlled. It is there within you, beckoning you through this longing for life itself. Bring yourself to that doorway, which never runs dry.

A luteal phase defect is when the uterus does not adequately respond to progesterone to hold the typical 14-day luteal phase. Progesterone output from the corpus luteum may be adequate, but the tissues are unresponsive. Thus, progesterone administration rarely cures luteal phase defect. At ties, the uterine lining does not exhibit the proteins that are necessary for implantation to occur. Sometimes, the immune system reacts against an implanting embryo, and lowers the response to progesterone. Occasionally, the endometrium thins and sheds before menstruation, which does not allow an implanting embryo to remain.

Chinese medicine views the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle energetically. We see that the kidney essence must be adequate to produce progesterone and hold the heating aspect of the menstrual cycle. Spleen qi must be able to “hold” the energies that allow implantation. The qi and blood must be unobstructed, without excess heat or dampness.

HERB-005 Tonify Kidney Qi: Luteal Phase Support helps the body encourage progesterone production by strengthening corpus luteal function. It encourages your body to develop the vascularization, glandular development and proteins necessary for implantation, and hold the kidney energies. This formula may be used following any follicular phase formula. It may be used alone or can be combined with Vitalize Spleen, Resolve Stagnation, and Invigorate Blood formulas.

Soaking your feet in a warm Epsom salt bath each night can also help tonify the kidney energies. Eating walnuts,, pumpkin seeds and yams can also help build up the energies that support progesterone production.

I do not advocate limiting your activities during the luteal phase, unless you tire easily. Any mild exercise that you enjoy during the first half of the cycle is appropriate for the latter half of the cycle. Throughout history, nature did not intend that you even know that you might be pregnant until a period was missed. Nature wasn’t mistaken. I think the wisdom of nature was well aware that if the human psyche got involved in thinking we could control implantation, our own stress mechanisms would make it worse. Relax. It’s the best thing you can do for your fertility. Live your life as if your future child was evaluating what life with you would be like. Would they want you to be stressed? Neurotically trying to control their entrance?

I had some luteal phase issues, and the one month I thought there was no chance I could be pregnant, I stopped supplementing with progesterone. I stopped taking my herbs. I went on a ski trip that I never would have gone on if I thought I might be pregnant. Nature knew better. That was the month I let go, and all of the things that I had been doing (acupuncture, meditation, qi gong, and herbs) were finally allowed to take hold. The one missing ingredient was that I was trying to control all of these things. When I let go the energies opened up and allowed a pregnancy.

Endometriosis is a laparoscopic diagnosis. Endometriosis is suspected when the individual presents with mild to severe menstrual cramps, pain on intercourse, and may experience dark, clotty menstrual blood. A laparoscopy is performed to confirm the presence of endometrial cells outside of the uterine cavity, to which the body has mounted an inflammatory reaction. The affected tissue can be “burned” off with a laser, although this is not curative. Another medical approach for endometriosis is to induce a temporary state of menopause with hormonally suppressive drugs such as Lupron. This is also not curative. The presence of endometriosis may also affect ones fertility. Occasionally scar tissue can develop which can impede the ability of the ovary to release the egg and be received appropriately within the fallopian tube. The degree of inflammatory reaction, however, is the greatest indicator. When the inflammation triggers the involvement of the immune system, the body can be programmed to view its own uterine lining as foreign and dangerous, and immune cells are mounted to destroy the endometrial cells and anything that might be implanting in them.

Fortunately, Chinese medicine has found curative relief for endometriosis. Herb-004 Invigorate Blood: Uterine Health Formula is based on a Chinese remedy to revitalize patterns of static blood in the uterus, reducing the inflammatory reaction and immune involvement.

I do not find it particularly valuable to know if one has been diagnosed with endometriosis. If there are symptoms of menstrual pain; blood clots; sticky black, brown or dark purple menstrual flow; and/or painful intercourse, it is an indication that the static blood needs to be enlivened so implantation can be allowed. This process often takes many months (3 – 9) to calm down, depending on its severity.

In addition to Herb-004 Invigorate Blood, I also recommend the following adjunctive treatments for endometriosis:

- application of castor oil packs to the lower abdomen and uterine massage

- follow the spleen qi diet, reduce red meat and animal fat

- supplement with USANA essentials, proflavanol, and visionex

- OPC, 250 mg/day

- Wobenzym, taken between meals on an empty stomach

- Nattokinase, take as directed

This regimen has been found curative. I have treated patients with Stage IV Endometriosis, who, after a few months on this plan, on repeat laparoscopy, had no evidence of endometriosis. Of course, the symptoms subsided as well.

This herbal formulation was prepared for those with PCOS, and directs the body’s reproductive energies toward removing obstructions to ovulation. PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome, insulin resistance and glucose intolerance are viewed as “damp” disorders through the lens of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

If you view the connection between the pituitary gland and the ovaries as a river, disorders of sugar regulation could be likened to sludge in the river bed, reducing the flow of communication between the messages from the pituitary gland and how quickly they are received and responded to by the ovaries.

One particular herb in the formulation, gleditsia spine, has been reported to reduce the waxy capsule around the ovaries that can hinder the release of the egg during ovulation. Gleditsia spine is not to be taken during pregnancy, which is why we stress taking this formulation prior to ovulation only.

Women with delayed ovulation may find ovulation coming earlier and earlier with continued use of this formulation during the follicular phase. It does not have this effect in women whose ovulation occurs during the expected mid-cycle range.

Women who have disruptions in sugar metabolism that impact ovulation can also benefit from supplementing the diet with NAC, chlorophyll, chromium picolinate, inositol, fenugreek, and bitter melon.

Sylvia had no formal diagnosis of PCOS, insulin resistance, or glucose intolerance. Yet, she always felt a little light headed when she was hungry, and craved sweets most of the time. She felt sluggish and tired and had a few immunologic markers. Her physician started her on Clomid, and prescribed Glucophage, although her glucose levels were within the normal range. These drugs made her feel even worse, and she did not become pregnant. Before proceeding with the suggested IVF, Sylvia removed sugar, refined carbohydrates, gluten and cow’s dairy from her diet. She supplemented with antioxidants, NAC, and chromium picolinate, and took the Resolve Damp formulation during the follicular phase followed by the Vitalize Spleen Qi formulation during the luteal phase. Immediately she felt the results. Her energy improved, her cycles shortened, ovulation came earlier each month, and she became pregnant in less than six months.

Herbal formulas are focused on gently correcting underlying imbalances; either building up deficient energies or removing obstructions. It is easy for misunderstandings to develop with Chinese herbs. The formulations are complex, to help the body do what it is intended to do. With fertility formulations, most are focused on directing the body’s energies to the reproductive system. The Fertile Soul herbal formula blend HERB-002 Kidney Essence: Follicular Health Formula is based on an ancient Chinese formulation to build up the “essence” of the reproductive system. It is intended to be taken during the follicular phase (after menstruation until ovulation) of each menstrual cycle, supporting the energies that encourage follicular growth. Unlike ovarian stimulating drugs, this formulation does not overstimulate and therefore deplete the reproductive energies, but nourishes the kidney yin and blood, while resolving any excess stagnant energies. They have no hormones in them, but encourage your body to produce its own hormones.

This nourishing formula may even be used concurrently with ovarian stimulation, with your doctor’s approval. This formulation has been shown to lower FSH, encourage folliculogenesis, raise AMH values and encourage ovarian response. I encourage its use in women with premature ovarian failure, poor ovarian response, advanced maternal age, or to build up the reproductive energies before or after a stimulated cycle.

Hydrogen, the simplest element and the first in the period table, was the most abundant element formed during the big bang. Hydrogen coalesced into stars, which then fused into helium. Hydrogen was named for its ability to form water.

H2O. Two atoms of the first element, and one of that which infuses us with qi.

Chinese medicine ascribes great value to the element water, the most abundant element in life. Our bodies are composed of about 80% water. Embryos are approximately 99% water. If we die of old age, we will probably be about 70% water. Water is depleted as we age. The reproductive system belongs to the element water, that which gives rise to life. Water governs the process of growth, maturation and decline. It oversees hormonal functioning. It is responsible for water balance of the kidneys and urinary bladder. Water produces the will to survive, and the instinct of fear. Water also governs the ears and sound, the carrier of vibration, and our potential to bring forth life. Energetically, that which gives rise to water thrives in stillness, and requires deep restoration.

Water is depleted by fear, overwork, exhaustion, and overstimulation. It is restored by relaxation, quiet, meditation, and by having a deep sense of knowing who we are. It is nourished by conserving our reserves; and not squandering them by the demands of life.

In Eastern thought, the sound Om connects us to the original vibration of creation. When we allow ourselves to deeply touch into our depths, we often find fear of the unknown, of our own origin. But when we allow ourselves not to run into the demands of life and face our own origin, our own fears, the result is a courageous wisdom that allows us to live from the strength of water’s greatest virtue – the spirit of water or zhi. The Chinese character for zhi is ? Zhi – A shoot emerging from the depths of the heart, or an inner direction that develops like an emerging plant, lifting up from the underground. Zhi describes the deepest aspect of who we are, that which provides us a rooted direction in life. It is our deepest remembering of who we really are.

We have access to recognize the spark of the divine within, through which life arises. The power of water is the place between stillness and life, where our deepest wisdom resides, giving rise to an instinctual power that ignites the flame of organic processes.

The characteristic of water is to seek the depths, always penetrating into the unfathomable origin. Consider this yourself. Can you rise above your deepest fears by penetrating into your own depths:

What vibration are you emitting? Is it in resonance with your deepest self? Can you find the courage to touch into your own subconscious mind? Can you dare to come into your greatest wisdom, found in stillness that brings forth the miraculous potential of how your highest vibration may be made manifest? This is where creation is expressed. This is fertility. This is your birthright.

A full breath triggers the respiratory center in the medulla to activate peptides and endorphins, the initiators of your hormonal system, These peptides are released into the central nervous system and circulate throughout the body. The microcosmic orbit activates the respiratory center, circulating its messages of relaxation and receptivity throughout the entire body, most notably the HPO axis. Perform this breathing exercise any chance you have. As you become experienced, the microcosmic breath should begin to flow as a single movement, and will be done effortlessly.

The Original MCO Breath

Place tongue on the roof of mouth, behind the front teeth.

Inhale through the nose and down the center of the body, through the lungs down the rib cage, expanding the belly fully.

Feel a pool of energy form in your uterine/ovarian area (the dan tien).

As you are nearing the end of the inhalation, draw the energy down the pelvis to the pelvic floor muscles surrounding the vagina or the perineum.

Release, and as you exhale, let the belly fall back in, and send the energy from the coccyx up the spine to the top of the head, down the forehead, and out the nose.

When you are comfortable with the MCO breathing process, you can enhance its effects with three areas of focus.

1. With your attention on the womb area, focus on what this original, creative energy feels like. Open up to your original qi; that which has been present before you were even born. Feel its infinite potential to create. Spend a few minutes with your awareness on this area.

2. As you inhale, expand the feeling of an open heart, bringing the immensity of your heart’s energy down to the dan tien. With each exhalation, feel as if you are pulling down any excess unwanted energy to the base of the perineum for release as you exhale up the spine. Spend a few minutes focusing on release.

3. Between exhalation and inhalation, notice the area between and behind the center of your eyebrows. This is the energetic area where perception of your environment is translated into chemical messages that orchestrate the entire endocrine cascade. Spend a few minutes becoming aware of the sensation of miraculous potential, as your perception of your world turns into a hormonal message.

Allow yourself to make this breathing meditation your very own. Some days you might be more drawn to focus on the womb, and your own infinite potential. Other days you might need to spend more time releasing. There also might be more of a call to a particular area of the body – the head, the heart, or the pelvis. Make this process come alive for you.